Technical points on video assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy for thymoma accompanied by myasthenia gravis / 中国基层医药

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the value of video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy in the treatment of thymoma accompanied by myasthenia gravis.Methods In this study,forty-two patients who were preoperatively con-firmed to be thymoma accompanied by myasthenia gravis from 2008.1 to 2012.12 were treated using VATS,including typeⅠin 23 cases,typeⅡa in 11 cases,typeⅡb in 7 cases,and type Ⅲ in 1 case.Thymectomy and dissection of all fatty tissue anterior to the pericardium were performed in all cases.The operation time,blood loss,chest drainage time,hospital stay and outcomes were recorded and compared.Results In this group,one patient showed myasthenic crisis after surgery and recovery well after treated by ventilatory support.the patients had fewer blood loss(<35mL) , shorter operation and postoperative drainage time, and shorter postoperative hospital stay.Conclusion Extended thymectomy by VATS is safe and feasible with the advantage of less invasion,less surgical trauma and pain,lower rate of complication,and good curative effect.